Grimmly Ever After

I've been reading the Grimm Brother's versions of fairy tales and I think I've figured out why my generation is so messed up. Our expectations are a little too high. Original versions of fairy tales typically feature women in competition for patriarchal approval, whether they be wicked step-sister, or evil step-mothers. Many of these tales were collected though the Grimm Brothers works in linguistics and published in 1860. The Grimm Brothers went into village pubs around Germany and compiled these tales, many were refined to communicate important life's lessons for a girls living during that era. Disney took it a step further and made the prince the fulfillment of a young peasant girl's dreams. Disney also left out vital elements of sexuality, unwanted pregnancies, death and abuse that are typical in the Grimm versions of these tales.

Snow White
Contrary to Disney's Prince who wakes Snow White with "true loves kiss," the original prince bumps Snow White's crystal coffin on stone causing her to regurgitate the poison apple lodged in her throat. Furthermore, at first the dwarfs refused to let the prince purchase Snow White because he intended to keep her as his "most prized possession."

The Little Mermaid
After allowing the sea witch to cut out her tongue, the little mermaid had to either marry the price or die. He married someone else and she died. Her consolation was to become a cloud for 300 years. The prince often referred to her as "my dumb foundling."

Beauty and the Beast
Similar to the Disney version, the beast begs Bell to marry her day in and day out, but she refuses because he is an animal. When the Beast nearly dies, Bell realizes that not only does she pity the beast, she values his friendship and platonic love.  He turns into a handsome prince and the good fairy notes that since Bell was able to see past looks, their marriage is based on virtue, hence it will be long, happy and fulfilling. The story is intended to teach young girls that are entering arranged marriages that if they submit to their less than desirable husbands, they will be rewarded.


Cinderella
The Grimm version is much like the Disney version except the step sisters cut of their toes and heals to fit into the gold slipper, plus their eyes are later pecked out by doves.


The Grimm Brother fairy tales can be traced back to earlier versions that make no to reference to a charming prince. For example, Snow White is based on the 1620 Italian Renaissance classic The Young Slave. The young slave Lisa is very outspoken and suicidal rather than passive and useful around the house. Beauty and the Beast is based on the Greek Mythology of Cupid and his wife Psyche. Psyche attempts to kill cupid after being ill-advised by her envious sisters. In the original Cinderella tale a young princess consults her fairy godmother on how to avoid marring her grief-stricken father.

Rather than waiting on guys to fulfill silly girl-hood Disney fantasies, we should teach girls to find their own happiness via accomplishment and self-fulfillment. Then they can pick out a "prince" to share their happiness with.